News and notes from media availability with HC Sean McDermott, OC Joe Brady and DC Bobby Babich.
Ed Oliver out indefinitely (bicep)
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed Monday afternoon that star defensive tackle Ed Oliver is out indefinitely with a torn bicep and will undergo surgery to repair the tear.
The confirmation by McDermott backed up reports from ESPN and NFL Network earlier in the day and now the Bills will be without their top defensive tackle for the foreseeable future.
"Tough loss. Ed's a really good player. It's an opportunity for someone else to step up here," McDermott said.
Oliver exited late in the first half of Sunday's game in Carolina after attempting to make an arm tackle at the line of scrimmage on Panthers RB Chubba Hubbard.
Oliver's 2025 season hasn't gone the way he had hoped as the star DT had missed time from Week 2-5 with an ankle injury. When on the field though, Oliver was one of the league's most impactful defenders, recording a sack in all three games he's started (Ravens, Falcons, Panthers).
Buffalo got back DT Larry Ogunjobi and DE Michael from suspension in Week 8 and both could play a larger role in the defense moving forward. Rookie DT T.J. Sanders (knee) was placed on IR on Oct. 11 and is not eligible to return until Week 11. DT DaQuan Jones is still "improving" from a calf injury but missed Sunday's game.
McDermott shared that he planned to meet later Monday evening with GM Brandon Beane to go over whether additional roster moves on the defensive line are necessary.
Maxwell Hairston makes "positive steps" in NFL debut
Bills first round cornerback Maxwell Hairston logged 27 snaps in his NFL debut Sunday, equating to 44% of the team's defensive snaps.
Hairston rotated in typically by alternating series with CB Tre'Davious White, a tactic the Bills have used with White and other Bills corners throughout the season.
McDermott shared that it was the smart decision to stick with that philosophy for Hairston's first game, especially since it was his coming off an injury.
"When you're trying to work with a young player and see how they do — and certainly a player that's missed some time— that's the right approach, rather than just throw them in full," McDermott said.
Perhaps surprising, Hairston played while not having a full week of practice as he was limited all three days and was activated from IR Saturday.
"A little bit (surprising), but not totally taken back. We had a somewhat of a window of a rep count that we wanted to try and land in. And it's not easy, due to drive length and whatnot — and then how the game goes," McDermott said. "I thought the medical staff did a good job getting him to the point where he was able to get activated and then practice the way he was."
Hairston made one tackle and it was a clean one, a solo open-field hit to hold a reception to a short gain.
"Jahmile Addae and Joe Dana did a great job getting him in situations to kind of prepare him for that," DC Bobby Babich said. "I think that allowed him to breathe a little bit. There was his first action there, but he was pretty good in coverage."
